Welcome to your fast-reference guide for Indiana state court appeals. Below, you will find a structured breakdown of key deadlines, required court forms, service rules, and filing fee guidelines under the Indiana Appellate Rules. Use this cheat sheet to quickly verify important timelines and ensure every step of your appeal process stays on schedule.
Please note that this guide is for informational purposes only; litigants should always consult the official Indiana Appellate Rules, local court rules, and the clerk of the court to verify current requirements for their specific case.
| Topic | Content |
|---|---|
| Appealable Orders and Judgments | Appeal may be taken only from the judgments and orders listed in Rule 5.
Indiana Appellate Rule 2(H) and Rule 14 describe which of these orders trigger the Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction. |
| Deadline for Filing Appeal – Entry of Final Judgment | 30 days after entry of final judgment. |
| Deadline for Filing Interlocutory Appeal – Notice of Filing of an Appealable Order | 30 days after the notation of the interlocutory order in the Chronological Case Summary |
| Documents Needed to Start Appeal | Rule 9(F) of the Indiana Appellate Rules explains what must be included in a Notice of Appeal. |
| Filing Fee |
$250, unless exception applies. The filing fee shall be paid to the Clerk of the Indiana Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Tax Court when the Notice of Appeal is filed. |
| Process for IFP (In Forma Pauperis) |
Appellant must file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the trial court along with an affidavit showing appellant’s inability to pay fees and a statement of the issues the appellant intends to present on appeal. A party who has been permitted to proceed in the trial court in forma pauperis may proceed on appeal in forma pauperis without further authorization form the trial court or the Court on Appeal. Appellant must file (1) the trial court’s authorization to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal, (2) an affidavit stating that the party was permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the trial court, or (3) a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the Court of Appeals (if the above two do not apply). |
| Whom to Serve | Appellants must serve all documents filed with the court on all parties of record in the trial court or Administrative Agency, any persons identified in Rule 14.1 (if applicable), and any other persons required by statute to be served. |
| Clerk’s Record and Transcript |
The appellant’s Notice of Appeal must include directions to the trial court clerk to assemble the clerk’s record and the court reporter to transcribe the transcript. The request for transcript should designate all portions of the transcript necessary to present and fairly decide the issues on appeal. The trial court’s clerk has 30 days from the filing of the Notice of Appeal to assemble the clerk’s record. The appellant must make sure that the clerk files the Notice of Completion of Clerk’s Record before the established deadline. The court reporter has 45 days from the filing of the Notice of Appeal to file a Notice of Completion of Transcript. The appellant must make sure that the clerk files the Notice before the established deadline. If the trial clerk or court reporter does not file their respective notices, the appellant must file a motion with the Court of Appeals compelling completion. Waiting more than 7 days after the deadlines expire could result in your appeal’s dismissal. |
| Appellant’s Brief Due |
No later than 30 days after the trial court clerk serves its Notice of Completion of Clerk’s Record on the parties (if the notice reports that the Transcript is complete or no Transcript has been requested) or the trial court clerk serves its Notice of Completion of the Transcript on the parties. Rule 25(C), which grants a 3-day extension of time for service by mail, does not extend the due date for filing the appellant’s brief. An extension of time to file the brief may be granted if a motion is filed at least 7 days before the expiration of time and for good cause shown. For correct form of briefs, see Rule 43. For length limitations on briefs, see Rule 44. For arrangement and contents of briefs, see Rule 46. |